Editor’s welcome | 9L&L looks back (L&L issue 3, 2009)|Q&A 40 | L&L LABELS&LABELING| LABELS&LABELING| 48 67 83G_UbYag>id]hYfgc`jYghYbg]cb]ggiYgA PRATI INSPECTION SYSTEM has increased productivity and quality at Skanem Hobro, reports Andy ThomasEFI’S open house at its facility in Ratingen, Germany, attracted converters from all over Europe9:=\cghg;YfaUbcdYb\cigYMARC BOEHLEN, CEO of BopackA number of inkjet printers and units have been launched in the last two years, but EFI’s Jetrion 4000 is making a strong bid to establish itself as a genuine alternative to HP Indigo and Xeikon in the digital label sector. James Quirk reports from the company’s recent German open house9ifcdYUbWcbjYfh]b[[fcidDigital printing has now established itself in the label industry ‘Latin America is booming for us at the moment,’ he con?rms. ‘The alongside the sector’s traditional processes. But investment region’s converters are quite cost-conscious, and the Jetrion 4000 in the technology had, until recently, brought comparatively offers great cost reductions with its lack of plates, for example. It is few options. also easier to bring in UV inks – which are widely used in the region k]h\U[`cVU`fYdihUh]cbThe ?urry of inkjet printer and unit launches at Labelexpo Europe – without using solvents.’ At a recent trade show in Guadalajara, 2007, however, signaled the beginning, if not yet the arrival, of Mexico, EFI’s distributor TSG sold a machine off the show ?oor. MIKE FAIRLEY visits the Bopack Group headquarters in Belgium and talks to CEO Marc Boehlen about the a new range of options for converters seeking to target short Haertel sees the 4000 initially establishing itself as a run, variable data applications. Eighteen months on, it is EFI’s complementary product, but believes that trends towards shorter company’s success and performance in today’s economic climateJetrion 4000, whose prototype was launched in Chicago the year runs and personalization will create an increasingly important role accredited. Rigid application of safety procedures and total Look for the top label converters and label award winners in before, which seems best placed to establish itself as a genuine for the technology. It continues to evolve, too, with a wider version control of the label production process, essential in our three Europe and it’s almost certain that the name of Bopack will alternative to HP Indigo and Xeikon in the digital label sector. said to be a potential future development. ‘It is a new technology, PRATI JUPITER TC400 SLITTER REWINDING specialized pharmaceutical manufacturing plants, are standard be amongst the ?nal list of contenders. Specializing in the A recent open house at the company’s Ratingen, Germany, but we have enough installations to give it credibility,’ he says. ‘It INSPECTION MACHINEABOVE: Nameand the company guarantees 100 percent traceability – from development and production of self-adhesive labels since facility, held in conjunction with new distributor Chromos (see will always have a ?t, because it is an affordable printer that has the labelstock right through to the ?nished product.’ the late 1960s, the Bopack family-owned business has built boxout), provided an opportunity to gauge the machine’s progress already proved its capability. And it will get wider and faster, so Similar dedication exists in the three Bopack plants an enviable reputation in product labeling that today spans a since it became commercially available at drupa last year. the Jetrion 4000 can have a key, mainstream role.’ Haertel draws producing cosmetics labels, each with cosmetics experts on total of six converting plants across Belgium, France and the Its evolution has been rapid. Dozens of machines have been comparisons to computer-to-plate technology – ‘initially a niche hand to guarantee a stylish and faultless label and product Netherlands and which has reached an annual turnover in installed in Europe, Asia, North and South America – across a product, but now mainstream’.presentation. Labels are supplied in different languages, excess of 90 million euros. Quite some achievement. wide range of companies and applications. The technology itself E5In line with its strategic commitment to cost- and TC400 with its three different rewind tension settings. This also versions and sizes, with guarantees on delivery schedules, and One of major European players in the production of has also progressed: with new print heads, updated software, TECHNOLOGYwaste-reduction policies, international label converting eliminates errors and reduces waste by forcing any active web combine a number of different printing processes on any one pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food and beverage, and chemical a pre-die cut label printing functionality, variable data printing EFI’s Paul Cripps provided open house attendees with an specialist Skanem has invested in a Prati Jupiter TC400 slitter containing omissions or unwanted elements to the correction label design. labels, Bopack’s state-of-the-art production equipment (almost enhancements and a new ink set all added to the Jetrion 4000 overview of the EFI stable of products, ranging from various rewinding inspection machine. Installed in its Danish premises table. The magnetic breaking system at the unwind and a L&L What have you most enjoyed L&L Looking back on your presidencyAT THE JUNE FINAT CONGRESS While quality, performance and service are key to Bopack’s 80 letterpress, ?exo, screen and digital offset presses), the since its launch. families of digital inkjet systems – Vutek, Rastek and Jetrion – at Hobro, the unit offers fully automated tensioning and dancing roller help to keep the process ef?cient.about your presidency of FINAT? of FINAT, what would you say are yourin Turkey, Jan Frederik Vink handed success in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors, it is latest pre-press hardware and software, computer-to-plate ‘It has been a real melting pot of companies that have invested cutting, improving overall productivity and throughput. Automation is enhanced with full electronic control of speed, JF: Most satisfying was working as most important achievements?production ?exibility and reactivity that is important in the technology and other in-house tools ensures that customers’ in the Jetrion 4000; large and small,’ says Dean Haertel, director The TC400 has three rewind tension stations, all controlled position and torque, via brushless technology. All settings over the presidency of FINAT to part of a fantastic team and receiving JF: This is something I should leave production sites that also produce food and beverage labels receive the highest print quality and production ?exibility. by the Varycontrol software which keeps the material at the are carried out and stored on computer, with web inspection Andrea Vimercati of Pilot Italia. As great support from the likes of past to others to answer! But from my point and shrink sleeves. Various pack-speci?c functions may also The company has also been at the forefront of many of correct, constant tension without stretching. The system assisted by special sensors for traditionally dif?cult materials. "One customer is even producing wine well as president of FINAT, Jan president David Harrisson and FINAT of view, I was able to render some supplied to Skanem was tailored to the company's speci?c A self-sharpening feature prevents unnecessary wear and the latest technology innovations and product solutions with need to be built into the labels to provide customers with re-Frederik is owner of Dutch label labels. It’s a machine with multiple secretary Jules Lejeune, among many positive in?uence in the period 2002 needs and features a web width of 430 mm, which is 30 mm tear, and rewind accessories include separators, web advance investment in recent years in digital offset presses (now ?ve in closeability, freezability, long shelf life, etc, while unique highly-converter Kolibri. The last two years others. I have also to mention the – 2004 as Treasurer. We developed wider than the basic machine. arms and a double rewinder shaft, all of which are suitable for applications: no one is ?nding jobs that total), in cold foil printing, in security labels, promotional and effective solutions developed for the cosmetics sector ?nd a have been challenging ones for the friendship and positive energy from some useful guidelines, based around Dan Panduro, production manager for Skanem Hobro, narrow web applications.booklet labels, as well sleeve labels – all targeted at meeting ready application in the high-end food and beverage sectors.they can’t print with the Jetrion 4000"comments: ‘We chose to invest in the Jupiter TC400 because Adds Johnny Tønder of Gra?sk Rotationsteknik, Prati sales fellow board members. Travelling in a simple model, for a more stable pressure-sensitive labels industry, the demanding standards of brand owners and their partners. For the production of industrial and chemical labels, Bopack in our assessment it was the best in the market for wraps agent in Denmark: ‘Having been involved with Skanem for and outside Europe, I met, and made, ?nancial policy, which we still use and L&L asked Jan Frederik to re?ect has developed labels to meet the toughest of speci?cations for ‘Indeed’, says Marc Boehlen, the company CEO, ‘Bopack was of worldwide sales. ‘Our existing customers are using it in a wide and other special materials. Previously we used to spend seven years, I know that the company runs single layer ?exible many friends within our industry, today. As president – and also as chemical, thermal and mechanical resistance, with more than the ?rst label converter to produce digitally printed labels for range of industries too: automotive, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, on his presidency and how he sees too much time cutting this material as our other machines material and needed to improve its output. The ?nal reels are including amongst our friends in vice-president – we developed a new, 400 hundred different adhesive types, special inks, re-sealable the pharmaceutical sector using a fully-integrated, 100 percent consumer goods and industrial sectors. One customer is even the future for FINAT, Kolibri and the could not coil up with precise tension, and our aim in this 50 mm wide with a diameter of 520 mm, so the increase in national and also international open strategy, which is focussed on solutions, Braille images, washable labels and much more. camera control system, and with the process validated with producing wine labels. It’s a machine with multiple applications: labels industrypurchase was to eliminate that problem. Not only has it done speed by 277 m/min represents a massive gain in productivity. associations, such as VSKE, TLMI and stronger relations with our national These are produced for world-renowned companies in the key world-renowned pharmaceutical customers. We have also no one is ?nding jobs that they can’t print with the Jetrion 4000.’that but it has also improved our operational speed, from We also assisted in training the company's existing operators many more. It was great to visit new associations in Europe, but also oils, lubricants, greases, paints, chemicals, maintenance and developed a range of special brand protection, authentication Haertel says that the 4000 offers converters a cheaper way the competitors’ machines we were using at 35 m/min to the on the new equipment and Skanem is very pleased with the countries like China, Brazil, Mexico getting a more international role for cleaning products sectors. Customized solutions to meet and security solutions for our pharmaceutical customers of taking advantage of market trends towards shorter runs and Jupiter’s very impressive 312 m/min.’ results.’and other countries. I did enjoy taking our industry. Label printers became speci?c customer or end-usage requirements are also available which include holograms, laser engraving, anti-counterfeit, personalization. As well as its success in the US and Europe, Job set-up and other operational parameters can be de?ned As well as being suitable for use with traditional opaque up the challenges which face FINAT more interested in FINAT, and we were while logistics labels, partially pre-printed and perfectly incremental numbering, hanger labels, protective sleeves and a great deal of interest has been received from the developing quickly and easily, with automated supervision enabled for stocks, an integral ultrasonic alignment device enables and its members in these dif?cult able to improve mutual co-operation. imprintable, are also part of Bopack’s range, multilayer labels. markets of Asia and Latin America, with machines already installed every working phase. Prati’s Varycontrol software provides the working with transparent substrates. times. In addition, we launched the Label It is undoubtedly the company’s dedication to quality, ‘All Bopack manufacturing plants are ISO 9000/2000 in China, Korea, Mexico and Venezuela.LABELS&LABELINGLABELS&LABELING JULY 2009 L&L JULY 2009 L&L | |P40 At the June Finat P48 Mike Fairley visited the P67 A number of inkjet P83 Andy Thomas reported Congress in Turkey, Jan Bopack Group headquarters printers had been launched on international label Frederik Vink handed over in Belgium and spoke with in 2008 and 2009 but EFI’s converting specialist Skanem, the presidency of Finat to CEO Marc Boehlen about Jetrion 4000 was making a which in line with its strategic Andrea Vimercati of Pilot the company’s success and bid to establish itself as an commitment to cost- and Italia. Frederik Vink also was performance. Specializing alternative to HP Indigo and waste-reduction policies, the owner of Dutch label in the development and Xeikon in the digital label invested in a Prati Jupiter converter Kolibri. The last two production of self-adhesive sector. James Quirk traveled TC400 slitter rewinding years had been challenging labels, the family-owned to Germany to attend EFI’s inspection machine. ones for the pressure- business had built an open house and investigate Installed in its Danish sensitive labels industry, L&L enviable reputation that Jetrion’s specifcations, premises at Hobro, the unit asked him to refect on the spanned a total of six features and see the machine improved converter’s overall future of Finat. converting plants. in action. productivity and throughput. Labelexpo afterglowEditor’s notet’s a running competitive he will retire after fve decades “A four-year absence made this joke at Labelexpo events, of leading change and driving to see who on the Labels innovation in this dynamic Iedition of Labelexpo Americas that & Labeling team walks the industry. It’s my honor to take most steps each day. It’s not over in Mike’s footsteps and much more special”uncommon for our journalists edit his fnal column. to cover 20,000 steps a day as the three-day show, I saw so Labelexpo returns to Brussels I will work to uphold we’re making our way through many handshakes given, hugs in September. Mike’s legacy as editor of this the showfoor to bring you shared and laughs enjoyed. They Though it may have taken magazine, but frst, I offer coverage of the key trends and say ‘absence makes the heart us longer to get through the sincere appreciation to Mike technology. grow fonder,’ and a four-year showfoor, the Labels & Labeling for an incredible career, for At the return of Labelexpo absence made this edition of team was at Labelexpo in full setting the groundwork of Americas 2022, I lost this Labelexpo Americas that much force, gathering the industry’s this storied magazine, and for competition. Big time. I was more special. leading coverage and keeping everything he’s done for those lucky to cover even half of that. Digital technology was you updated online during in the label industry. It’s not that I was lazy undoubtedly the star of this the event. Cheers, Mike, on your second or stuck in a boardroom show, and industry experts Turn to page 100 to read act. May it be as rewarding as somewhere far from the action, are convinced there’s a digital about all the trends and your frst. but rather, I could hardly walk transformation underfoot. technology in case you missed fve steps without seeing a While we missed seeing the the show. Or in case you had familiar face, an industry friend, advancements that fexo the same problem making your or a colleague looking has made in recent years, way through it.to reconnect. And I was I predict that we’ll see what Finally, this edition of the not alone. conventional press OEMs magazine offers Mike Fairley’s Chelsea McDougallThroughout the majority of have been up to when fnal column as he’s announced Group managing editor Oct - Dec 2022